The Purpose in the Pain
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." - James 1:2-3
Pain is something most of us will do almost anything to avoid. But have you ever thought about what life would be like without it? I once had a childhood friend whose mother lived with a rare condition called CIPA, which left her unable to feel pain. One day, she broke her ankle but didn’t know it. For weeks, she walked as if nothing was wrong until the damage became visible. By then, the injury was so severe that her foot had to be amputated.
That story paints a powerful picture. Pain, as unwanted as it is, serves an essential purpose. It’s a warning system, a signal that something is wrong and needs attention. Without it, we can drift toward even greater harm without realizing it.
Spiritually, the same is true. Maybe you’re going through something right now that feels painful, and you’re wondering why God would allow it. While no one seeks out pain or suffering, it can be one of God’s tools to alert us, shape us, and move us toward where we need to be.
Pain has a way of waking us up. It gets our attention when we’ve been stuck in patterns we need to break or when we’ve been ignoring areas in our lives that need God’s touch. But here’s the key: pain requires a response. If you ignore it, if you choose inaction, you risk spiritual and emotional damage that could have been addressed and healed.
Stop wasting your pain. Ask God to reveal what He’s trying to show you through it. Ask Him, “Lord, what are you teaching me? Where are You leading me? What do You want to change in me through this?”
Pain may not be good in itself, but God can use it to protect you, propel you forward, and ultimately perfect you. Instead of numbing it or running from it, lean in and let God work through it. He doesn’t waste anything. Not even the hard stuff.
Pain is something most of us will do almost anything to avoid. But have you ever thought about what life would be like without it? I once had a childhood friend whose mother lived with a rare condition called CIPA, which left her unable to feel pain. One day, she broke her ankle but didn’t know it. For weeks, she walked as if nothing was wrong until the damage became visible. By then, the injury was so severe that her foot had to be amputated.
That story paints a powerful picture. Pain, as unwanted as it is, serves an essential purpose. It’s a warning system, a signal that something is wrong and needs attention. Without it, we can drift toward even greater harm without realizing it.
Spiritually, the same is true. Maybe you’re going through something right now that feels painful, and you’re wondering why God would allow it. While no one seeks out pain or suffering, it can be one of God’s tools to alert us, shape us, and move us toward where we need to be.
Pain has a way of waking us up. It gets our attention when we’ve been stuck in patterns we need to break or when we’ve been ignoring areas in our lives that need God’s touch. But here’s the key: pain requires a response. If you ignore it, if you choose inaction, you risk spiritual and emotional damage that could have been addressed and healed.
Stop wasting your pain. Ask God to reveal what He’s trying to show you through it. Ask Him, “Lord, what are you teaching me? Where are You leading me? What do You want to change in me through this?”
Pain may not be good in itself, but God can use it to protect you, propel you forward, and ultimately perfect you. Instead of numbing it or running from it, lean in and let God work through it. He doesn’t waste anything. Not even the hard stuff.
Subscribe
If you were blessed by or directly benefited from this content, please subscribe to receive receive daily devotions to your inbox.
1 Comment
Wow. True Words. Amen and Amen. Thank you Pastor Jordan